NPR

Is Buying A House Overrated?

The Nobel Laureate who co-created the way our nation measures home prices says that over the long run, they don't increase much. And when they do, it can mean a bubble. Are we in one now?
Source: Bloomberg

Editor's note: This is an excerpt of Planet Money's newsletter. You can sign up here.

The latest S&P/Case-Shiller Index numbers drop today, giving us a peek at the direction of home values. The index tracks national home prices. It's an important indicator, but it's only really finance nerds who talk about it, which is weird because Americans hold about of their wealth in their houses. That's about a quarter of their entire net worth. The Dow Jones Industrial Average, which tracks stock prices, gets a lot of attention — but for many

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from NPR

NPR3 min read
Bearing Witness, Celebrating Strength: How Poetry Has Changed Lives For NPR's Audience
From sparking the imagination to helping with mental health, listen to poems read by NPR readers and see how poetry has affected their lives.
NPR3 min readAmerican Government
Who Is Hope Hicks, The Former Trump Adviser Testifying In New York Criminal Trial?
Hope Hicks was a communications director for the Trump White House and prosecutors may question her on her knowledge of the deals made during his first presidential run.
NPR3 min read
Scientists Welcome New Rules On Marijuana, But Research Will Still Face Obstacles
When marijuana becomes a Schedule III instead of a Schedule I substance under federal rules, researchers will face fewer barriers to studying it. But there will still be some roadblocks for science.

Related Books & Audiobooks